J.K. Rowling Writing New 'Harry Potter' Inspired Film Series Based On 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them'

While the exact size of the money truck Warner Bros. has driven up the doorstep of author J.K. Rowling has yet to be revealed, it looks like the adventures of Harry Potter will be continuing. Kind of. While not a direct prequel or sequel, or even involving the character at all, it seems the studio is confident that just the mere mention of Hogwarts will get people checking out their latest venture. And they’re probably right.

The studio has announced today a brand new film series based on the Hogwarts textbook, “Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them,” which will also be the name of the first movie. Fictional author Newt Scamander, who “wrote” the slim volume ‘Beasts,’ will serve as the lead character for this new saga, and is said to take place seventy years before Harry even comes into the picture. So sorry, you can quash those Daniel Radcliffe cameo rumors right now. And of course, video games and other licensing opportunities are already being explored, with expansions to Universal theme park attractions already being talked about. Because, money.

“I can’t say I’ll never write another book about that world just because I think, what do I know, in ten years’ time I might want to return to it but I think it’s unlikely,” Rowling has previously said about coming back to the world that brought her worldwide fame, and changed her life forever. But perhaps after the somewhat cool reception to her more adult fare including “The Casual Vacancy” (which is being turned into a miniseries anyway) and “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” she realizes which side her bread is buttered on.

Rowling will pen the first installment of the new series of movies, marking her screenwriting debut. So get ready to keep waving your wand as there is much more to come from Rowling’s magical pen.

Time to do a feature on novelists who have adapted their own books into screenplays (and how writing a solid, well-paced, emotionally satisfying movie is a whole different ballgame from writing a novel).